Class Meetings Fall 2025

GESM 140g 35462R (Byrd)
Lecture: T Th 12:30-1:50 in GFS 113  
[If we become remote, here are Professor Byrd's Netiquette expectations for the virtual classroom. ]

GSEM 140g in Life Sciences. Scientific understanding of a full range of living systems from molecules to ecosystems, prokaryotes to humans, past and present. (Satisfies GE-D, Life Sciences)  Open only to Freshmen.

Course Goals

• To situate the physiology and functions involved in producing human language 

• To understand how sounds of the World’s Languages are articulated and how English varies globally & around the US

• To have an elementary understanding of speech acoustics

• To grasp the basic physiology of human hearing and appreciate the abstract nature of human speech perception

• To appreciate how bilingual speakers juggle their multiple languages

• To become familiar with breakdown in disorders of voice and speech 

• To become familiar with the causes of hearing loss and deafness and understand the role of hearing aids, cochlear implants, and signed languages

• To appreciate the benefits and limitations of spoken language technologies

Learning Objectives

• Demonstrate learning related to course goals through question-answer assessment

• Analyze original data in mini datasets

• Participate in phonetic exercises both oral (practicum & listening) and written (transcription)

• Peruse, select, synthesize, and critique original research articles in speech and hearing sciences from library journal collections

• Practice public presentation of scientific material to lay audience

• Develop a functional understanding of healthy and disordered language, including via interacting with atypical speakers/hearers, that can be drawn on to make informed life decisions.

USC and Related Support Resources 

Communication and Policy Information

Slack and Email: In addition to the utility of Slack, it is useful if we can communicate with each other using email. In this way, you can be advised of changes, and I can be advised of any problems that you encounter. Please know that for this class I will expect you to check your email.  In case you are unfamiliar with email, communications should be respectful and grammatical.

In-Class Health Notes

Students with symptoms of illness should not be in the classroom. If you are ill, let me know and we will work together to address continuity of education. If your symptoms are consistent with Covid-19, you should arrange to test through MySHR.  

Students are expected to comply with all aspects of USC’s COVID-19 policy as extant at any given time, including its masking policy. Failure to do so may result in removal from the class and referral to Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards. If we find ourselves needing to be remote, here are Professor Byrd's Netiquette expectations for the virtual classroom. 

For students enrolled in classes that will be taught in-person, the default attendance expectation is in-person. Students who present an OSAS accommodation that permits them to take the class online-only will be accommodated. Similarly, we want to support and accommodate students who test positive for COVID or are required to self-isolate due to a high-risk exposure.  That said, there should be no expectation that this class will be recorded, though it may be recorded at times for students who cannot be present due to illness.

Emergency Preparedness/Course Continuity in a Crisis—New Students are automatically signed up for TrojanAlerts. “In case of a declared emergency if travel to campus is not feasible, USC executive leadership will announce an electronic way for instructors to teach students in their residence halls or homes using a combination of Blackboard, teleconferencing, and other technologies. See the university’s site on Campus Safety and Emergency Preparedness.”

(The  material below is required by USC.)

Academic Integrity 

The University of Southern California is foremost a learning community committed to fostering successful scholars and researchers dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and the transmission of ideas. Academic misconduct is contrary to this fundamental mission and includes any act of dishonesty in the submission of academic work (either in draft or final form), as well as cheating, plagiarism, fabrication (e.g., falsifying data), knowingly assisting others in acts of academic dishonesty, and any act that gains or is intended to gain an unfair academic advantage. Students are expected to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity in all coursework.

This course follows the expectations for academic integrity as stated in the USC Student Handbook. All students are expected to submit assignments that are original work and prepared specifically for the course/section in this academic term. Students may not submit work written by others or “recycle” work prepared for other courses without obtaining written permission from the instructor(s). Students suspected of academic misconduct will be reported to the Office of Academic Integrity.[1] 

Other violations of academic misconduct include, but are not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, fabrication (e.g., falsifying data), knowingly assisting others in acts of academic dishonesty, and any act that gains or is intended to gain an unfair academic advantage.[2] 

Academic dishonesty has a far-reaching impact and is considered a serious offense against the university. Violations will result in a grade penalty, such as a failing grade on the assignment or in the course, and disciplinary action from the university, such as suspension or expulsion.

For more information about academic integrity see the Student Handbook, the Office of Academic Integrity’s website, and university policies on Research and Scholarship Misconduct.

[In this course, unless specifically designated as a ‘group project,’ all assignments are expected to be completed individually. In this class, you are expected to submit work that demonstrates your individual mastery of the course concepts.] Please ask me if you are unsure about what constitutes unauthorized assistance on an exam or assignment, or what information requires citation and/or attribution. 

Course Content & Recording Distribution Policies

USC has policies that prohibit recording and distribution of any synchronous and asynchronous course content outside of the learning environment.

Violations of Academic Integrity: Recording a university class without the express permission of the instructor and announcement to the class, or unless conducted pursuant to an OSAS accommodation. Recording can inhibit free discussion in the future, and thus infringe on the academic freedom of other students as well as the instructor. (Living our Unifying Values: The USC Student Handbook, page 13).

Violations of Academic Integrity: Distribution or use of notes, recordings, exams, or other intellectual property, based on university classes or lectures without the express permission of the instructor for purposes other than individual or group study. This includes but is not limited to providing materials for distribution by services publishing course materials. This restriction on unauthorized use also applies to all information, which had been distributed to students or in any way had been displayed for use in relationship to the class, whether obtained in class, via email, on the internet, or via any other media. Distributing course material without the instructor’s permission will be presumed to be an intentional act to facilitate or enable academic dishonestly and is strictly prohibited. (Living our Unifying Values: The USC Student Handbook, page 13).

Course Evaluations

Course evaluation occurs at the end of the semester university-wide. 

Accommodations 

(from USC Center for Excellence in Teaching  https://cet.usc.edu/teaching-resources/syllabus-template/)

OSAS is responsible for the determination of appropriate accommodations. Once a student has completed the OSAS process (registration, initial appointment, and submitted documentation) and accommodations are determined to be reasonable and appropriate, a Letter of Accommodation (LOA) will be available to generate for each course. The LOA must be given to each course instructor by the student and followed up with a discussion. This should be done as early in the semester as possible as accommodations are not retroactive. More information can be found at osas.usc.edu. You may contact OSAS at (213) 740-0776 or via email at osasfrontdesk@usc.edu.

Support Systems  
(this section originates from USC Center for Excellence in Teaching https://cet.usc.edu/teaching-resources/syllabus-template/)

Counseling and Mental Health - (213) 740-9355 – 24/7 on call

Free and confidential mental health treatment for students, including short-term psychotherapy, group counseling, stress fitness workshops, and crisis intervention.

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline - 988 for both calls and text messages – 24/7 on call

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States. The Lifeline is comprised of a national network of over 200 local crisis centers, combining custom local care and resources with national standards and best practices. 

CARE-SC: Confidential Advocacy, Resources, and Education Support Center - (213) 740-9355(WELL) –24/7/365 on call.

Confidential advocates, prevention educators, and professional counseling teams work to promote a universal culture of consent, and prevent and respond to gender- and power-based harm. Services available to all USC students at no cost.

Office of Civil Rights Compliance - (213) 740-5086

Information about how to get help or help someone affected by harassment, discrimination, retaliation on the basis of a protected characteristic, rights of protected classes, reporting options, and additional resources for students, faculty, staff, visitors, and applicants.

USC Report & Response - (213) 740-2500

The USC Report & Response website is the university’s central reporting portal for concerns arising in the academic space or workplace.  All concerns will be assessed and referred to the appropriate university office for resolution.  Any questions about USC Report & Response or reporting, in general, can be referred to the Office of Professionalism and Ethics at ope@usc.edu.

OSAS - (213) 740-0776

OSAS provides academic accommodations and auxiliary aids in accordance with federal laws and university policy.

USC Campus Support and Intervention - (213) 740-0411

Focuses on student success by assisting students in navigating and resolving complex issues through problem solving, presenting options, and connecting to resources 

USC Emergency - UPC: (213) 740-4321, HSC: (323) 442-1000 – 24/7 on call

Latest updates regarding safety, including ways in which instruction will be continued if an officially declared emergency makes travel to campus infeasible.

USC Department of Public Safety - 

For 24 hour emergency assistance or to report a crime: UPC: (213) 740-4321, HSC: (323)-442-1000.

For 24 hour non-emergency assistance or information: UPC: (213) 740-6000, HSC: 323-442-1200.

Office of the Ombuds - (213) 821-9556 (UPC) / (323-442-0382 (HSC)

A safe and confidential place to share your USC-related issues with a University Ombuds who will work with you to explore options or paths to manage your concern.

Occupational Therapy Faculty Practice - (323) 442-2850 or otfp@med.usc.edu

​Confidential Lifestyle Redesign services for USC students to support health promoting habits and routines that enhance quality of life and academic performance. 

The section above originates from USC Center for Excellence in Teaching  https://cet.usc.edu/teaching-resources/syllabus-template/)